November 10, 2015 Ann Johnson Director, ACT Rochester

 Credibility and Trust – Opportunities and Challenges  Negative Impacts of Poverty, Education and Racial/Ethnic Inequity  ACT Rochester- A Data Resource for ACTION  Using “Heads” and “Hearts” - Storytelling  Questions

Poverty and the Concentration of Poverty … Why? What? How? ◦ Why: To enhance community awareness and understanding of poverty, particularly the concentration of poverty. ◦ What: Analysis of poverty in the nine-county Greater Rochester Area with special emphasis on the concentration of the poor within the City of Rochester. ◦ How: Staff research of U.S. Census data, ACT Rochester data and studies by other reputable organizations; national comparisons and benchmark comparisons for comparably sized communities.

2015 Update: ◦ Key Data Elements Updated ◦ Deeper Benchmark Analysis of Comparably Sized Cities

New Grant making Framework has two goals: Creating an Equitable Community Strengthening our region’s vitality Closing the academic achievement and opportunity gap Supporting arts and culture Fostering racial and ethnic understanding Preserving historical assets Partnering against povertyPromoting successful aging

Family SizePoverty Level 2013 Report Poverty Level 2015 Update Self-Sufficiency Standard 1$11,490$11,670$20,042 2$15,510$15,730$38,773 3$19,530$19,790$47,391 4$23,550$23,850$58,284 5$27,570$27,910$58,598

Rochester is the 5 th poorest city in the U.S., among the top 75 metro areas. Rochester is the 2 nd poorest city of comparable size.

Rochester has the 3rd highest concentration of extremely poor neighborhoods, among the 100 largest cities.

Rochester City School District students are the poorest of New York’s large urban districts. Rochester City School District students are the poorest of all 430 Upstate NY districts.

The poverty rate is much greater for some: Group: Nine- County Region Poverty Rate for Group Poverty Rate for All Children19%13% Single parent family 37%13% African Americans 34%13% Latinos33%13%

The poverty rate is much greater for some: Group: City of Rochester Poverty Rate for Group Poverty Rate for All Children46%31% Single parent family 68%31% African Americans 37%31% Latinos43%31%

 Rochester’s poverty rate is now 32.9% - up 1.8 points.  Childhood poverty rate is now 50.1% - up 4 points.  Rochester is still the 5th poorest city among the nation’s top 75 metros; and still the 2 nd poorest among cities of comparable size.

 All principal cities in metros within 200,000 population (+ or -) of Rochester - 18 cities.  Rochester Ranked #2 in overall poverty rate.  Rochester Ranked #1 in childhood poverty. It is the only city its size where more than half the children live in in poverty.

 Rochester Ranked #1 in extreme poverty (percent of population below half the poverty level).  Ranked #1 in poverty rate of female-headed families.  Rochester Ranked #1 in poverty rate of those with less than a high school education.

 Percentage of Students by Poverty Rate of School School Poverty Rate:

Poverty is an impediment to regional prosperity.

 Excellent media coverage  Significant community interest  Poverty Simulations  Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative  NY State Poverty Task Force

 Expanding awareness.  Achieving understanding.  Taking actions.

… There can be no better argument for doing this now than the startling conclusions of the Rochester Area Community Foundation and ACT Rochester’s recent poverty report, …

Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. ~ James Baldwin

a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity build upon our recent progress transcend our significant challenges extend economic opportunity to all of our region’s residents Wikipedia

 Honoring our community’s small giants  $25,000 in media space, $5,000 cash  56 nominations, 5 finalists